The scar

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 182648

---  "Barry" <whealthinc at ...> wrote:
>
> I was wondering why Harry had a scar shaped like lightning 
> rather than a smudge. A zig-zag lightning shape is, of course,
> a symbol of power. Yet the power that creates lightning is an 
> electronic one. Rowling has been quoted here as saying that 
> magic negates electricity. So a magic person wears a sign of 
> a power that is negated by magic! Am I reading this correctly?
> 
> Barry
>

bboyminn:

I think you are reading way to much into it, and are also trying
to merge unrelated aspects of the story.

The scar is lightening shaped because it is from a break or
cut in the skin which leaves a jagged gash that resembles a
'lightening' shape rather that a 'smudge' you might expect 
from an abrasion or scrap. 

I also agree with Carol that the gash on Harry's head most 
likely comes from something bursting out rather than the 
standard impact of the Avada Kadavra curse which, again as
Carol points out, usually doesn't leave a mark.

By coincidence, the scar resembles two Nordic Runes. The first
mentioned by Carol is -

EIHWAZ or EOH - This is another rune of protection.

The other is -

SIGEL, SIGIL, SOWELU or SYGEL - SIGEL is a rune of victory, health,
and success. 

Expanded explanations and actual symbols can be found here -

http://hem.passagen.se/vsen/public_html/runes.htm

I think it is incidental that Harry scar also has a rune shape.
I think JKR just wanted it to be a cut, and have an interesting
shape. 

Steve/bboyminn